'Guarantee security to human rights defenders'

Four human rights activists, three teachers and a journalist were killed in three months period between October to December, 2007, in Nepal, according to a report prepared by the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC).

Making the report public at an interaction on 'Rights and Condition of Human Rights Defenders' organized in the capital Friday, member of the National Human Rights Commission, Gauri Pradhan, expressed serious concerns over the growing insecurity of the people advocating for human rights.

"As the violation of human rights grows alarmingly, human rights defenders have themselves been victimized," National News Agency quoted Pradhan as saying. He also stressed on guaranteeing security to the human rights activists and said that NHRC has initiated a task to form a common mechanism of the human rights defenders.

Chief of the Human Rights Cell in the Nepal Army, Narendra Prasad Aryal said all should be aware of the violation of others' rights while using political rights.

Chairman of the INSEC Subodh Pyakurel said it had been very difficult to report on the violation of human rights as the human rights defenders themselves are bound to work in risky conditions due to the violence in various parts of the country including Terai. Security to the human rights defenders should be guaranteed, he reiterated. nepalnews.com ag Jan 11 08